The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced the lifting of suspension on Nigeria and 17 other countries.
In a statement Monday, the Ministry assured foreign pilgrims of participation in the 2022 hajj after a two-year suspension occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It said COVID-19 vaccination was the only basic requirement for pilgrims and that further information would be released in due course.
Meanwhile, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in a statement by its spokesperson, Fatima Sanda Usara, said the commission received the pleasant news of the uplifting of direct travel ban into Saudi Arabia effective from March 5.
The Commission said guidelines for the 2022 hajj would be released after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The statement read in part: “The only requirement for entry into the Kingdom is full vaccination with the accompanying registration on Tawakkalna and Eatmarna apps as gateway.”
The commission urged intending pilgrims to desist from travelling with prohibited items such as “illicit drugs and kola nuts.
“They should recall that penalty for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia is death. Besides, NAHCON is in full collaboration with NDLEA and other interrelated agencies in ensuring that such persons are apprehended before embarking on the trip,” the statement explained.
This development has excited some hajj and umrah operators who said the announcement signaled the commencement of their business.
The Managing Director of B&C International Travel Agency Limited, Maiduguri, Bachullu Goni Modu, said the lifting of the ban was a great relief for the operators, however, expressed fear that the turnout of passengers may be low due to economic hardship in the country.
“The passengers will be very low because of the difficulty in the country today. People don’t have enough cash in their hands and that’s the only challenge we’ll have,” he said.
Also commenting, Alhaji Qasim Alabi, Vice President, Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria said: “The removal of the travel ban is therefore a welcome development and great relief for the hajj and Umrah travel industry in Nigeria.
“We’ve long been waiting for the good news and it came at a time we thought the travel ban will remain in force in view of the fact Ramadan is drawing nearer.
On his part, Abubakar Adeshola of Bridgestone Travel and Tours said: “As usual, the expectation is actually high, but with the situation of the country, one is not actually optimistic.”
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